Race to change the future of youth mental health – 2024 RBC Race for the Kids raises $2.6 million for Sunnybrook’s Family Navigation project

TORONTO, September 21, 2024 /CNW/ – More than 8,100 participants took a big step for young people’s mental health today, beyond the 12th grade.^th commemoration of the RBC Race for the Kids on Toronto. Together they raised $2.6 million to support the Family Planning Project (FNP) at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center. Founded in 2013, FNP has changed the lives of thousands of young people with mental illness and/or addiction concerns and their families by connecting them with the specialized services they urgently need.

Quick Notes

• The 2024 RBC Kids Race is 5 k.m. charity walk/run taking place in Mel Lastman Square.

• RBC Race for the Children in Torontocelebrates its 12 days^th year, it attracted more than 82,100 participants and raised the total pass rate $2.6 million so far for Sunnybrook’s Family Planning Project (FNP).

• FNP was founded by Sunnybrook Psychiatrist Dr. Anthony Levitt and a group of parents who struggled to navigate the complex mental health care system to get help for their children.

• FNP connects youth (ages 11 to 29) with families with trained medical professionals who conduct assessments, assess needs and provide referrals to health care and social services.

• FNP research confirms the urgent need for youth mental health services. About a third of the Ontario families care for at least one young person with a mental illness and/or an alcoholic.

Quotations

• “At RBC, our mission to help our customers succeed and our community to succeed is at the core of everything we do and support important events like the RBC Race for the Kids,” he said. Kristina DepencierRegional President, Greater Toronto Region, RBC. “I feel so proud every year when I see colleagues, friends and families come together to support such a great cause: to support young people and their families as they deal with life’s challenges mental beauty, they prepare them for a successful and promising future.

• “Every year I am touched by the way our community comes together to support the mental health of young people. The entire FNP team and I are very grateful to RBC and all Race participants for their continued support They not only allow us to help thousands of young people and their families, but it ensures that we can continue to help young people Ontario get the best mental health and addiction care they can afford.” —Dr. Anthony LevittMedical Director of the Family Planning Project at Sunnybrook.

About Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center is shaping the future of health care for the 1.3 million patients the hospital serves each year through the dedication of more than 10,000 staff and volunteers. An internationally recognized leader in research and education and a comprehensive relationship with University of Toronto discriminating Sunnybrook as one of the of Canada premier health science institutes. Sunnybrook specializes in the care of high-risk pregnant women, critically ill newborns and adults, providing specialized rehabilitation and treatment and prevention of cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases and mental, bone and arthritis conditions and traumatic injuries. The hospital also has a unique and nationally leading program for the care of of Canada warriors.

The story continues

Learn more at sunnybrook.ca.

SOURCE Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center

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